The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 08 eBook

CHAPTER XIV

THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE

On the evening of the same day that John had ridden
away from Zumarshofen, Crappy Zachy came to Farmer
Rodel’s house and sat with the proprietor in
the back room for a long time, reading a letter to
him in a low voice.

“You must give me a hundred crowns if I put
this business through, and I want that down in writing,”
said Crappy Zachy.

“I should think that fifty would be enough,
and even that is a pretty bit of money.”

“No, not a red farthing less than a round hundred,
and in saying that I am making you a present of a
hundred. But I am willing to do that much for
you and your sister—­in fact, I am always
glad to do a kindness to a fellow-townsman. Why,
in Endringen or in Siebenhofen they would gladly give
me double the money. Your Rose is a very respectable
girl—­nobody can deny that—­but
she’s nothing extraordinary, and one might ask,
what’s the price of a dozen such?”

“Be quiet! I won’t have that!”

“Yes, yes, I’ll be quiet, and not disturb
you while you’re writing. Now, write at
once.”

Farmer Rodel was obliged to do as Crappy Zachy wished,
and when he had done writing, he said:

“What do you think? Shall I tell Rose about
it?”

“Certainly, you must do so. But don’t
let her show that she knows about it, nor tell any
one in the place; it won’t bear being talked
about. All people have their enemies, you and
your sister like the rest, you may believe me.
Tell Rose to wear her everyday clothes and milk the
cows when he comes. I shall have him come to
your house alone. You read what Farmer Landfried
writes; the boy has a will of his own, and would run
away directly, if he suspected that there was anything
being prepared for him. And you must send this
very evening to Lauterbach and have your brother-in-law’s
white horse brought over here; then I’ll get
somebody to send the suitor over to you in quest of
the horse. Don’t let him notice that you
know anything about it either.”

Crappy Zachy went away, and Farmer Rodel called his
sister and his wife into the little back room.
After exacting a promise of secrecy, he imparted to
them that a suitor for Rose was coming the next day,
a prince of a man, who had a first-rate farm—­in
fact, it was none other than John, the son of Farmer
Landfried of Zumarshofen. He then gave the further
directions which Crappy Zachy had recommended, and
enjoined the strictest secrecy.

After supper, however, Rose could not refrain from
asking Barefoot, if, in case of her marrying, she
would not go with her as her maid; she would give
her double wages, and at the same time she would then
not have to cross the Rhine and work in a factory.
Barefoot gave an evasive answer; for she was not inclined
to go with Rose, knowing that the latter had selfish
motives for making the proposal. In the first